Aeronautic apparatus.



G.. B. MELOTT. 'AERONAUTI'G APPARATUS. 4 APYLIOATION riLBD APRA. '1910. 1,060,273. Patented Apr.29, 1913.

2 slums-SHEET 2.,

'UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

CHESTER B. MELOTT, F YOINKERS, NEW YORK.

'AERONAUTIC ArPAM'rUs.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER B. Mnno'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county .of lVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeronautic Apparatus, of which the following is a specificatioii, reference being had therein to the accompanying` drawing.

My nvention relates to improve-ments 1n aeronautic apparatus and is particularly planes immediately 'application of my invention.

adapted for and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in application to an aeroplane although it will be readily understood from the following that the invention may be adapted for use in combination with lighter-tha-n-air and other types of machines.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an aeroplane showing the Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same'. Fig. 3 a side elevation. "Fig 4 an elevatio of part of the front section and Figf 5 a planvie'w of the same.

6 and 7 are the main planes of the machine extendingtransversely across the center of the saine and held in position by cross braces such as 8 and 9, the material of which the planes are composed being drawn taut' by tightening up on th wires '11.and 12 which increases the horizontal of the braces 8 and 9 thereby tretching the covering. The vertical braces re of a length equal to the distance of sepa ation of the planes after the same are drawn taut. The machine is also provided with fore and aft supporting astern of the propellers, the orwardplanes being indicated by the reference characters 18 and 14 and the rear supporting planes being indicated by the reference characters 'l5 and 16. Above and below these planes are also preferably mounted what might be called Astability planes sucli 'as 17 and 18 in the front. of the machine and 19' and 20 in the back of the machine. The propellers are preferably mounted upon axes substantially in line with the outetl` edges'of the supportinig lanes 13 to 16 inclusive and are revolved 1n `opposite directions.

21 and 22 are, guiding planes or rudders suitably hinged to the back of the tront section of the machine asshown and 22-l-23 are similar rudders at the .stern ot' the inachine bein'g adapted to control the machine Specification of'Letteiis Iateiit.

Patented Apr. 29,1913. Appi'ieationaiedaprna,1910. semaine. 553,023.

and normally held down by a light-spring such. as 20.- i

24 and 25 are rudders preferably fastened in the front section of tbe machine as shown andare secured by the wires or cables` 26 and 27 and may be used for steer-ing the machine to the right o1' left.- The currents of air discharged by the propellers strike these rudders in their raised position and thus serve to turn the machine.

The propellers are preferably located ad- ]acent to the fore and .aft su porting planes substantially as shown in or er that the currents of air setin motion by the propellers as the saine are discharged astern may be utilized. All forms or types of screw propellers in displacing the atmosphere hori zontally for propulsion and flight/'by screw thrust, communicate a certain amount. of cyclonic or revolving action to `the atmosphere-so discharged. The velocityof backward displacement and the revolving force communicated to the atmosphere so displaced vary according to the speed, angle or'pitch of the propeller blades and the amount of slip developing due to the resistance of the load. Propellers of low itch develop the leastamountof slip an the greatest amount of screw thrustand consequently communicate the least amount of cyclonic or revolving action to the atmosphere they displace, while .a similar propeller with high pitch blades revolving at a correspondin speed develops a greater amount of sip under a similar-load with decreased screw thrust, but communicates a greatly increased cyclonic action or revolving force tothe atiiiosphere discharged by the propeller. It is the high l'pitched ,type

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of propellers I prefer to employ in connec-w'95 tion with the forward and rear supporting planes referred to which are so placed as to 'resist by'their undersurfaces the upward.

lss on either side or corner of the machine to restore balance'. j The proBellers discharg- .ing astern impart a revolving cyclonic 'and 19 and 20, while giving additional supporting surface to the machine, also serve to minimize the rollingtendency and liability of the machine to ,become unbalanced due to the extra surface presented by the falling side and a correspondingly decreased surface exposed by the elevated side.

The planes 6 andi' of the main transverse'4 biplane are of unequal lengths, the difference ,in their respective lengths being that of the distance or space between the two planes, the upper plane being the longest, so that ,its center of lifta'may be made to control the center of lifts of the lower or shorter plane.

Of course it will be understood that varions other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

' Having described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire ,to secure by Letters Patent is: n

1. In an aeronautical apparatus, support- 'and controlling surfaces, propelling means having an axis parallel to the line of flight, some of said surfaces extending radially from said axisand adjacent to said propelling means so as to resist the cyclonic action `of the air set in motion thereby, and means for adjusting some of said radial surfaces substantially around said axis.

2. In an aeronautical apparatus, supporting and controlling surfaces, propelling means having an axis parallel to the line of flight, some of said surfaces extending radially from said axis and in the direction of the upwardly rotating side of said propellin tatlon of the same, other surfaces at an angle to each other above said rst menmeans and adjacent to the plane yof ro- 4 porting surfaces radiating from said axes so as to resist the cyclonic action imparted to the air by said propelling means, an upper and' a, lower transverse supporting surface, said upper tr-ansvcise supporting surface extending laterally beyond said lower transverse supporting surface, and surfaces fore and aft. of said transverse surfaces atan angle to the other of said surfaces-and parallel with the line of fiight, and controlling surfaces adjacent to said propelling means and radiating from the axes thereof in combination with means for adjusting said controlling surfaces upon said axes;

4. In an aeronautical apparatus, front and back supporting'surfaces, propelling means having axes substantially parallel to the line of flight, said front -and back supporting surfaces radiating from said axes so as to resist the Cyclonic action imparted to the air by said propelling means, an up- Vper and a lower transverse supporting surface, said upper transverse supporting surface extending laterally 'beyond said lower transverse supporting surface and surfaces fore and aft of said transverse surfaces at an angle to the other of said surfaces and parallel with the line of flight, and controlling surfaces adjacent to said propelling means and radiating from the axes thereof in combination with means for adjusting said controlling surfaces upon said axes, and rudders at the rear edges of said front and back supporting surfaces, and means in combination therewith for' operating the same.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CHESTER B. MELOTT.

lVitnesses:

LOUISE Exnnann,

THOMAS A. Hum. 

